Park closes trails as it assesses storm damage

Several trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have been closed due to extensive damage from wind and rain.

Gabes Mountain Trail and Snake Den Ridge Trail in Cosby, and Baxter Creek Trail and Big Creek in Big Creek have been closed due to scores of downed trees. The trails are impassable by foot or horse. In addition to trail closures, the park has also closed “B” Loop of Cosby Campground because of damage.

Additional trails in the area may be closed as the park continues to assess the damage from a storm that passed through the area on June 13.

There is no estimated time for reopening the trails or the campground.

“We are in the process of assessing the condition of all of the trails within the storm-affected area,” said acting Chief Ranger Steve Kloster.

The storm, which hit hardest on the northeastern-most section of the park, was the tail end of a system that hit the Midwest through much of Thursday. Air monitoring stations at Clingmans Dome and Look Rock recorded over 60 mile-per-hour winds during the storm.